Sports Eye
Typhoon Ruby jeopardizes Batang Pinoy National Games?
By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.
AS I write this piece Thursday (Dec. 4), PAGASA warned that ‘Ruby’ a new powerful typhoon, has already entered the Philippine area of responsibility and will most likely hit eastern Visayas and Mindanao. If Ruby doesn’t change its course, it might seriously affect the Batang Pinoy National Games that will be held in Bacolod City on Dec. 9-13. Our Pangasinan delegation that placed tenth overall last year will most likely to postpone their trip to Bacolod on Sunday, Dec. 7. but that would ultimately depend on the forecasted weather that week, said Butch Velasco of the Provincial Information Office.
PAGASA also warned that the cyclone could travel the same path that super typhoon Yolanda took, and killed thousands of people including some athletes of Leyte and Samar provinces. Usually when a typhoon hits a place, stadiums and some government establishments are used as evacuation centers. That will happen to the host place Bacolod in case Ruby wreaks havoc. For sure the national games will be rescheduled and possibly moved to another place. Yes, Yolanda was the most destructive typhoon that I’ve ever known in my life, hopefully Ruby’s power will not be as strong as Yolanda. “Prayers can move mountains,” as the saying goes, and that’s exactly what the survivors of Yolanda are doing now, that they may be spared this time from another big disaster. There’s also the maxim that says “Once is enough and twice is too much.” I agree.
So far, PAGASA has not listed Pangasinan, as one of critical areas to be hit by Ruby. And I’m hoping that not even rain will fall on December 8 because if it does, the bikefest in Sta. Barbara that I will direct could also be jeopardized and postponed. Typhoon or even moderate rains are the biggest enemies of any cycling event. Rains make the road so slippery which is hazardous for the contestants especially in mountain bike racing. It will surely cause bad crashes, causing a lot of injuries to the riders that could sideline them for many months, if not years. That’s what I experienced in my cycling days.
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It’s sad to know that Filipino basketball legend Avelino “Samboy” Lim had to be taken to a hospital last Nov. 29 after collapsing during an exhibition game with his former PBA players at Ynares Arena in Pasig City. The well-loved former Letran Knight standout during his amateur years, Lim, fondly called “Skywalker” because of his acrobatic shots and slam dunks during his ten-year stint in PBA, suddenly collapsed while stretching after he was pulled out from the game. He remains sedated but showed signs of improvement according to the doctor that was assigned to him at the ICU in Medical City Hospital. Lim, 52, also sometimes called “The Dragon” because of his daredevil drive inside the paint, was selected as member of PBA’s 25 Greatest Players for his greatness in the professional league. He failed, however, to win an MVP award due to his constant failure to finish a full season games because of his recurrent injuries.
He used to play with San Miguel team during their grand slam seasons. He was also a member of the Philippine national team that won the silver medal in the 1990 Beijing Asian Games with Robert Jaworski as the playing coach. With him were Allan Caidic, Yves Dignadice, Hector Calma, Ramn Fenandez, Dante Gonzalgo, Rey Cuenco, Chito Loyzaga, Ronnie Maganoc, Benjie Paras, Alvin Patrimonio and Zaldy Realubit. His advocacy today is to give basketball clinics to young kids. Let’s pray for his speedy recovery.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Therefore thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will surely bring calamity on them which they will not be able to escape; and though they cry out to Me, I will not listen to them” JEREMIAH 11: 11
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